Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Nightmare 12 month old sleep

4 replies

Justlostmybagel · 23/11/2025 07:17

Dd has been fed to sleep since birth, up until a couple of weeks ago. This hasn't been a problem, since she generally transferred easily to her cot and slept well, either all the way through, or with one or two wakes.

I'm now pregnant again so we wanted her dad to be able to do bedtimes and I'm also ready to be done breastfeeding, honestly. We expected a lot of resistance and at least a few horrendous nights, but her dad took her up to bed and cuddled her to sleep. She cried for about 20 minutes the first night and then not at all since then. She goes down brilliantly for him now.

We were patting ourselves on the back, thinking "wow, this was so easy" and "all that worry for nothing". It was great for a couple of nights but then she's suddenly almost impossible for me to put down for naps or bedtime. She'll take forever to fall asleep, like an hour or so, and then wake 30 seconds after her back touches the cot mattress. Or she'll just scream and won't go to sleep at all. I'm honestly losing it now. I'm failing to get her down for naps about 90% of the time and then she's a grumpy, tired, monster for the rest of the day.

She's also awake for hours at a time in the night and won't go down for either of us. She woke at 2am last night and is still up at 7am now.

I don't know what to do with her anymore. Grateful for any suggestions!

OP posts:
Justlostmybagel · 23/11/2025 08:19

Another failed nap. I'm so fucking tired.

OP posts:
Peonies12 · 23/11/2025 08:22

for naps, can you do something else like car or pram? My 14 month old rarely naps in the cot, usually contact or pram. How long has it been since you stopped breastfeeding? Breastfeeding does contain melatonin to help sleep so she will be missing that. You might just need to do what you can to get the naps in, don’t worry about cot. Maybe shes ready to drop a nap anyway?

Justlostmybagel · 23/11/2025 08:27

Peonies12 · 23/11/2025 08:22

for naps, can you do something else like car or pram? My 14 month old rarely naps in the cot, usually contact or pram. How long has it been since you stopped breastfeeding? Breastfeeding does contain melatonin to help sleep so she will be missing that. You might just need to do what you can to get the naps in, don’t worry about cot. Maybe shes ready to drop a nap anyway?

Thank you for replying!

She hates the car, unfortunately. She will sometimes sleep in the pram but it's -12 here this morning. Maybe I'm being unrealistic in wanting a break and time to catch up on housework during naptimes though 😢.

I am still breastfeeding currently. In the morning, for naps, and before her Dad takes her up to bed.

We tried one nap yesterday and that was her worst might of sleep but maybe I need to persevere. I don't know. My brain is fried.

OP posts:
Peonies12 · 27/11/2025 10:32

Justlostmybagel · 23/11/2025 08:27

Thank you for replying!

She hates the car, unfortunately. She will sometimes sleep in the pram but it's -12 here this morning. Maybe I'm being unrealistic in wanting a break and time to catch up on housework during naptimes though 😢.

I am still breastfeeding currently. In the morning, for naps, and before her Dad takes her up to bed.

We tried one nap yesterday and that was her worst might of sleep but maybe I need to persevere. I don't know. My brain is fried.

I just have given up expecting to do much in the day apart from baby care. I'll do meals and clear up, but not much else. It's actually helped take the pressure off trying to make her nap in the cot. I do contact naps and enjoy the rest. It's actually easier now I'm back at work as I WFH and can do chores during lunch break whilst baby at nursery.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread